The latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics confirm the continuation of positive economic trends in the trade sector, as consumer spending once again recorded growth during October 2025.

When observing developments on a monthly basis, it is evident that retailers achieved a real increase in turnover of 1.3 percent in October compared with September, and it is interesting to note that growth was present both in the food segment and in non-food items. More specifically, trade in food products increased by 2.9 percent on a monthly basis, while turnover from trade in non-food products excluding motor fuels and lubricants rose by 1.7 percent.

An even stronger indicator of economic activity and citizens' purchasing power can be seen in comparison with the same month last year, where calendar-adjusted turnover increased in real terms by 4.1 percent, thereby continuing an impressive streak of as many as thirty-one consecutive months of consumption growth on an annual basis. Observed by retail branches, this annual growth was not even, as turnover in retail trade of non-food products jumped by a significant 7.7 percent, while in the same period turnover in food, beverages, and tobacco products recorded a somewhat milder growth of 1.6 percent. When drawing a line under the first ten months of 2025, the data show that total turnover compared with the same period last year was 3.6 percent higher in real terms, indicating the stability of consumption throughout the year.

The analysis of nominal turnover reveals exactly which retail branches contributed the most to these results, so according to original indices, non-specialized stores predominantly selling food and beverages stand out, having recorded a turnover increase of 6.6 percent and thereby exerting the greatest influence on the overall index. A significant contribution was also made by pharmacies and stores selling cosmetic and toiletry products, with turnover higher by 10.3 percent, while by far the largest nominal jump of as much as 12.6 percent was achieved by textile, clothing, and footwear stores. All these factors resulted in total original retail turnover in October 2025 increasing nominally by 6.9 percent compared with October of the previous year.

Looking at the broader picture, these statistical data point to a comprehensive recovery and market stability, because according to original indices, turnover growth was recorded in all nine retail branches, confirming that the propensity to spend does not relate only to basic necessities of life, but is visible in all segments of retail trade. Such results, which we have witnessed through the first ten months of this year, together with cumulative growth of 3.6 percent, suggest that domestic demand remains a strong pillar of the economy, and given the uninterrupted growth streak lasting longer than two and a half years, retailers can look to the end of the business year with a certain degree of optimism.